7 Business Lessons I Learned From Watching Football

The game of Football is the only unifying factor among different nations, tribes, religion etc, and it comes with various business lessons embedded in it.

Often many people who do not understand the passion for football do question why thousands of people will gather in a stadium to watch 22 players comprising of two teams running after a ball for 90 minutes.

Even some die-hard passionate fans do not understand instead they feel that it is simply a game, and nothing more important than that.

However, Football has often been defined as a universal language. The influence of football in the world over the years has shown that anyone who views football solely as a game severely underestimates the impact that the sport can have on emotions in a country, and even the political future of the nation.

For example, the qualification of Cote d’Ivoire in 2006 to play in the World Cup in Germany helped to distract attention from the civil war raging in the country.

The mix of different ethnic and religious groups in the national team helped the country to bond, and a cease-fire was declared and observed during the tournament.

As one Ivorian said, “Everyone is thinking about football and the World Cup, and we have forgotten about the war. Thanks to football, the country will reconcile its differences.”

Also, Iran’s qualification for the France 1998 World Cup led to massive celebrations, alcohol-fuelled parties, and women throwing off their veils thereby placing the whole country at peace.

So many of us have come to be football addicts. Anything that bears the name of football catches our fancy, but often we just flow in the currents of the fun and excitements the game carries with it without looking critically to learn the lessons of life and business it teaches.

Therefore, I write this post to highlight base on my observation the 7 business lessons which football have teaches and I want to share it with you.

LESSON 1: IN BUSINESS, YOU NEED A COACH

You, as a player in the business game, needs a coach: Every great football player leverages on the experience, expertise, and skills of a coach to excel.

Players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Eden Hazard, etc. are succeeding in their careers because of the coaching tips they acquired over time.

There is a saying that says that behind an able man are other able men. Success in business is guaranteed if you can stand on the shoulders of giants in your field who have done it before and learn from them.

A business coach is somebody who helps your business tackle specific tasks and objectives thereby moving you from where you are to where you want to be and does so by solely focusing on your goals.

No wonder, Tracy Cherpeski, an entrepreneurship, and wellness coach did say that “If you are not clear on your vision, then every single opportunity will distract you and impede your progress,”

After all, you’ll never really know what you’re capable of until there’s someone to push you outside your comfort zone. Just ask any professional athlete.

If a business coach is something you’ve thought about but yet to make a decision on whether you want to get one or not, here are some reasons why you should.

Most business owners find it very easy to overlook training. You could miss out on a whole lot of business success if you don’t train yourself or your employees.

To stay at the top of your game, you need to be skilled in all the latest techniques and technologies, up to date with the most recent regulations and the laws that affect your sector and engaged with their work.

You need to motivate yourself to push forward and strive to develop new skills and smash your targets.

You need to invest in yourself to take your business to the next level. This is the only way to create a culture that encourages the pursuit of excellence.

LESSON 3: IN BUSINESS, INJURIES ARE INEVITABLE

No matter how skillful you are as a player, injuries are INEVITABLE. The principle is also applicable to the business pitch.

Note in business there are ups and downs which will occur as if there is no hope for the future. But each time we are carried away on a stretcher by the tornadoes of life, we must choose to rise again and prove that adversity carries within it the seed of recuperative opportunity.

LESSON 4: IN BUSINESS, MAXIMISE EVERY OPPORTUNITY

In the field of business, you must play like you will never have another chance. In the game of football so many teams lose opportunities they should have converted into goals hoping those opportunities will come again.

So, in business don’t ever think that if you fail to maximize an opportunity, you will get another. The game of business must be played like the game of football within a time frame, and surely you won’t be here forever.

The Holy Book says: ‘’there is a time for everything” you must do business with wisdom as though this business will collapse if not catered for optimally.

Ask yourself what have you done so far? What other ways can you achieve your goals? What methodology should I employ? How can you score goals and become a champion in the business game? Halftime is the time to rest and re-think.

LESSON 6: ACHIEVEMENT

You as a player on the business pitch must resolve to score goals. In the game of football, it is really not about your advantages or disadvantages, it is rather a function of being able to convert your opportunities into goals.

Same way in business, it’s not your ability to have plans, visions, dreams, and aspirations, what really counts is your ability to take bold steps towards turning your visions and dreams into fruition/reality.

LESSON 7: IN BUSINESS, YOU MUST FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE REFEREE

As in the game of football, you must play to the rules of the referee. Every football match has an official called the referee, whose duty is to make sure players play by the rules of the game.

As the participant in the game of business, you need to partner with your creator who happens to be the referee that controls the affairs of life.

It is wise to play by his rules and regulations and also sticks to his ‘’dos and don’ts’’. Remembering that He who swims with the creator never gets to the bottom. You must always acknowledge the place of your Creator in your business.

CONCLUSION

From the insights above, Watching Football really is more than just a gameplay to waste valuable time. The insights above can be applied to any business looking to become successful.

In fact, these insights can be applied to any business, organization, non-profit or startup looking to find success.

Another part of success for football is taking a risk. Sometimes you need to ignore all the straight-jacket rules of the game and do things your way.

I hope you’ve been able to capture lessons that will transform your life and take you from where you are to where you need to be.

You may kindly share this post with friends across different platforms to encourage entrepreneurship.

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About Ini Patrick

Hello, I'm Ini Patrick, a Serial Entrepreneur, Business Analyst, and Web Business Strategist. Am committed to helping entrepreneurs grow their business by sharing hybrid information and ideas that teaches strategies and systems to start and grow any business.

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About

Hello! My name is Ini Patrick, I’m committed to helping entrepreneurs do better. I share hybrid information and ideas that teaches strategies and systems to help you start and grow any business. Here’s how you can learn moreabout this blog, contact me or submit an article. Cheers!

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Ini Patrick Notes was conceived with the intention of sharing hybrid informative and educative information on business and entrepreneurship that will propel and help start-ups and SMEs to think beyond the possible to succeed in their business adventures. The overarching purpose of this blog is to share valuable information on business ideas, advice, tips, opportunities and resources that will motivate, and inspires young entrepreneurs and keep them satisfied in their business endeavors.